Suggestions
Amanda Makulec
Data viz designer, teacher & speaker | Executive Director at Data Visualization Society
Amanda Makulec is a seasoned data visualization leader with over ten years of experience working with clients in various sectors, including federal, nonprofit, and private organizations.
She currently operates as an independent consultant specializing in health data visualization design and data literacy, advocating her belief in empowering individuals to enhance their data visualization skills and improve communication effectiveness.
In addition to her consulting work, Amanda serves as the Executive Director of the global Data Visualization Society and is a regular co-host for Chart Chat. She holds a BA in Zoology and Sociology from Miami University and a Masters of Public Health from Boston University.
Amanda has had a diverse professional journey, holding positions such as Acting Director at Excella, Operations Director at the Data Visualization Society, RME Advisor at John Snow, Inc. (JSI), and Program Officer at ICF Macro, among others.
Her educational background encompasses a Master's in Public Health with a focus on International Health from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology and Sociology from Miami University.
Highlights
Since it popped up in The Pudding's newsletter, I've recommended this write up of a real-world attempt to have Claude.ai create a visual data story to more than three dozen colleagues, students, and Data Visualization Society friends.
For me, the article reinforced the ways AI can create efficiencies in the data curating, organizing, and exploratory analysis part of #dataviz design. Where AI falls (very) short is in the creation of creative, interesting, engaging data stories.
Perhaps data viz designers will become one of the most critical roles for a real human to occupy in these kinds of design processes, since we can address key challenges around making data meaningful, trustworthy, and interesting and bring a layer of creativity that doesn't constantly give off Midjourney vibes.
Remember, the world of data viz isn't just about following rules. We're challenged with making justifiable design decisions, both ethically and functionally according to Alberto Cairo, around how and why we use different encodings, charts, visual metaphor, and more to communicate a story. Learning the rules and then sometimes purposefully breaking them in creative ways is often where viz magic happens.
I won't steal The Pudding's thunder with what the final report card for Claude's data story looked like, but it wasn't a grade I would be proud of.
Link to the story in comments 👇
And that's a wrap on #outlier2024!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Future Fridays workshop this afternoon (the great crew pictured) and throughout the last three days. Being with so many people who I've only gotten to see on zoom rooms and Nightingale articles is such a joy.
I'm hugely grateful to Julia Hennelly, Martha Emily Kund, Zane Wolf, Amy Cesal, Simran Parwani,.and the whole organizing team who made the hybrid event a great experience. And to Steven Franconeri for his brilliant keynote and hosting us at Northwestern.
Wishing everyone safe travels, and we can't wait to see you in 2025!

